27 Jan Can Corrosion Sink a Ship?

The term “corrosion” comes from the Latin word “corrosio,” which means “to gnaw” or “to erode.” This origin accurately reflects the process of corrosion, which involves the deterioration of a material, typically a metal, due to a chemical reaction with its surroundings. In simpler terms, corrosion refers to the rusting or wearing away of metals as a result of environmental factors.

How serious is this issue? Could it lead to an airplane crash? Is it strong enough to topple the Eiffel Tower or sink a ship? In fact, did corrosion cause the Titanic to sink? Wait a minute… didn’t the Titanic actually hit an iceberg?

While the first records of corrosion date back to the 19th century, studies on its effects began in the late 18th century. Particularly in the late 1800s, scientists began to understand that metal deterioration was caused by chemical reactions and that this process affected the lifespan of materials.

Beyond scientific discoveries, even in ancient trade routes and ports during the Roman era, people were battling the effects of corrosion. Although they didn’t have today’s technology, they used methods like painting ships, avoiding overloading metals, using copper, and using sturdy wood for underwater parts to combat corrosion.

For example, the ancient port of Ostia Antica in Italy was located at the mouth of the Tiber River and was the center of all maritime trade to the empire’s capital. It was home to many Liburna-type ships. The metal parts of the Liburna, especially the iron nails, rusted rapidly due to constant contact with seawater. The high concentration of ships in the harbor was also a factor accelerating corrosion. Archaeological excavations in this region reveal the corrosion problem even in those times.

Technological advancements and scientific studies continue to progress. In August 2023, a tugboat in the Atlantic Ocean near South Carolina sank after taking on water through holes in its hull caused by corrosion.

The phrase “undetected corrosion” in the National Transportation Safety Board’s report is quite frightening. In our YouTube video, we’ve delved deep into the topic of undetected corrosion and its causes.

A La Combattante IIIB-class ship in the Greek Navy had its hull pierced during a mission.

In 1954, a De Havilland Comet aircraft broke apart in mid-air twenty minutes after takeoff due to metal fatigue.

Let’s look at the Titanic disaster. While it can’t be said that it sank due to corrosion, it was accepted that the pure iron rivets used at that time could pose problems in terms of corrosion and could be disadvantageous during an impact. However, these were continued to be used after the Titanic and a disaster didn’t occur in every collision. Another report stated that the steel materials on the ship’s outer surface weakened the structural integrity due to iron oxide formed as a result of the reaction with oxygen. However, none of these were proven and directly indicated as the cause.

A series of corrosion disasters like this have occurred throughout history. For more, see Global Impact of Corrosion: Occurrence, Cost and Mitigation.

So how do we wake up from this nightmare?

The most common options in the marine sector are the use of zinc, cathodic protection, smart coatings, and nanotechnology.

Let’s look at two methods that have been used for a long time: zinc and cathodic protection.

Cathodic protection is a method used to prevent corrosion of metal structures. This system passivates the metal with a protective electric current, preventing oxidation. Cathodic protection is commonly used for structures like pipelines, ship hulls, and water tanks. In summary, it protects metal from rust.

The first attempt was made by Humphry Davy on a Royal Navy ship HMS Samarang during the 19th century.

Davy created a galvanic cell by attaching a more active metal to the ship’s metal fittings. In this way, the zinc metal corroded, protecting the ship. This first application resulted in a significant decrease in corrosion. However, this application also had a side effect, and marine life attached to the ship’s hull increased, affecting the ship’s performance.

On the other hand, zinc is commonly used to prevent corrosion in ship hulls, yachts, and metal structures. Zinc anodes create a protective layer, preventing the metal surface from corroding. In this method, zinc oxidizes more easily, protecting the main metal. In summary, zinc is a tool that prevents metal from rust.

Have you ever wondered if steel can rust or what the difference is between rust and corrosion? Are you interested in learning about passivation? Check out our YouTube video to discover more about corrosion.